Lady Bears top-seeded again

Updated 11:08 pm, Monday, March 18, 2013

Coach Kim Mulkey (center) and her team give the “Sic 'em Bears” sign as they watch the selections.

Coach Kim Mulkey (center) and her team give the “Sic 'em Bears” sign as they watch the selections.

Photo: Jerry Larson / Waco Tribune-Herald

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Baylor's Brittney Griner, jokes around as she poses for photographers with the 2013 Big 12 Championship sign after their NCAA college basketball championship game against Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor's Brittney Griner, jokes around as she poses for photographers with the 2013 Big 12 Championship sign after their NCAA college basketball championship game against Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor guard Makenzie Robertson, left, and her mother, head coach Kim Mulkey stand atop the latter after cutting down a link off the net following half of their NCAA college basketball championship game against Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor guard Makenzie Robertson, left, and her mother, head coach Kim Mulkey stand atop the latter after cutting down a link off the net following half of their NCAA college basketball championship game against ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) and Odyssey Sims, right, celebrate their the Big 12 Conference title after they defeated Texas 67-47 in an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) and Odyssey Sims, right, celebrate their the Big 12 Conference title after they defeated Texas 67-47 in an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in ... more

Baylor's Destiny Williams, left, and Connecticut's Caroline Doty, right, fight for control of the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Baylor's Destiny Williams, left, and Connecticut's Caroline Doty, right, fight for control of the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Baylor's Brittney Griner, left, is pressured by Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Baylor's Brittney Griner, left, is pressured by Connecticut's Stefanie Dolson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) shoots over West Virginia's Ayana Dunning (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, March 2, 2013. (AP Photo/David Smith)

Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) shoots over West Virginia's Ayana Dunning (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va., on Saturday, March 2, 2013. (AP Photo/David Smith)

Photo: David Smith, Associated Press

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Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) steals the ball from Kansas State guard Brittany Chambers (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, March 4, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. Baylor won 90-68. (AP Photo/LM Otero) less

Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) steals the ball from Kansas State guard Brittany Chambers (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, March 4, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. Baylor won ... more

Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) left, reaches for a loose ball with Oklahoma State's Tiffany Bias (3), right, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte) less

Baylor's Odyssey Sims (0) left, reaches for a loose ball with Oklahoma State's Tiffany Bias (3), right, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, in Waco, Texas. (AP ... more

Photo: Rod Aydelotte, Associated Press

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Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) blocks the shot of Oklahoma's Joanna McFarland (53) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Waco Texas. It was Griners' 665th career blocked shot, surpassing the NCAA women's record set by Louella Tomlinson for St. Mary's in California from 2007-11. Baylor won 82-65. (AP Photo/LM Otero) less

Baylor's Brittney Griner (42) blocks the shot of Oklahoma's Joanna McFarland (53) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Waco Texas. It was Griners' 665th career ... more

Photo: LM Otero, Associated Press

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Texas' Imani McGee-Stafford (34) and Brady Sanders (32) defend as Baylor guard Odyssey Sims, center, goes up for a a score in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Waco, Texas. Sims had 15-points in the 67-47 Baylor win. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Texas' Imani McGee-Stafford (34) and Brady Sanders (32) defend as Baylor guard Odyssey Sims, center, goes up for a a score in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Waco, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor 's Brittney Griner (42) goes up for a score over TCU 's Ashley Colbert (44) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 78-45. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor 's Brittney Griner (42) goes up for a score over TCU 's Ashley Colbert (44) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in Waco, Texas. Baylor won 78-45. (AP ... more

Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) chases down a loose ball against Iowa State forward Hallie Christofferson (5) during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) chases down a loose ball against Iowa State forward Hallie Christofferson (5) during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) blocks a shot attempt by Iowa State guard Nikki Moody (4) during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) blocks a shot attempt by Iowa State guard Nikki Moody (4) during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Iowa State guard Nicole Blaskowsky (15) and Anna Prins (55) defend as Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) drives to the basket during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Iowa State guard Nicole Blaskowsky (15) and Anna Prins (55) defend as Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) drives to the basket during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Oklahoma State's Kendra Suttles (31) and Liz Donohoe (4) defend against a shot attempt by Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) during an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 women's tournament Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 77-69. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Oklahoma State's Kendra Suttles (31) and Liz Donohoe (4) defend against a shot attempt by Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) during an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 women's tournament Sunday, March ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor guard Alexis Prince (12) defends as Iowa State forward Chelsea Poppens (33) handles the ball during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor guard Alexis Prince (12) defends as Iowa State forward Chelsea Poppens (33) handles the ball during their NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Iowa State center Anna Prins (55) defends against a shot attempt by Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Iowa State center Anna Prins (55) defends against a shot attempt by Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Iowa State guard Nicole Blaskowsky defends against Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 75-47. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Iowa State guard Nicole Blaskowsky defends against Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (0) during an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big 12 Conference tournament, Monday, March 11, 2013, in Dallas. ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor' Destiny Williams (10) goes up for a shot against Oklahoma State' Kendra Suttles, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 women's tournament Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) less

Baylor' Destiny Williams (10) goes up for a shot against Oklahoma State' Kendra Suttles, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 women's tournament Sunday, March 10, 2013, in ... more

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press

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Baylor's Niya Jonson (2) shoots past Kansas State's Mariah White during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 Conference tournament on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 80-47. (AP Photo/LM Otero) less

Baylor's Niya Jonson (2) shoots past Kansas State's Mariah White during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 Conference tournament on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won ... more

Photo: LM Otero, Associated Press

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Baylor's Brooklyn Pope shoots past Kansas State's Chantay Caron (11), Bri Craig (20) and Brittney Chambers (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 Conference tournament Saturday March 9, 2013, in Dallas. Baylor won 80-47. (AP Photo/LM Otero) less

Baylor's Brooklyn Pope shoots past Kansas State's Chantay Caron (11), Bri Craig (20) and Brittney Chambers (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 Conference tournament ... more

Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg, right, and Baylor's Brooklyn Pope, left, fight for a loose ball during the second half of a NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Baylor won 86-64. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) less

Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg, right, and Baylor's Brooklyn Pope, left, fight for a loose ball during the second half of a NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Baylor won 86-64. (AP ... more

Photo: Alonzo Adams, Associated Press

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Lady Bears top-seeded again

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WACO — Brittney Griner and top-ranked Baylor could have a few repeats while trying to repeat as national championship.

As the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, the Lady Bears (32-1) will open Sunday night at home against Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament champion Prairie View (17-14).

That is the same opening matchup Baylor had two years ago, when it was a No. 1 seed for the first time and also hosted first- and second-round games.

If the Lady Bears keep advancing, and the other top seeds hold as well, the rest of the tournament could have a very similar feeling to last year — when they were undefeated and their tournament run capped off the NCAA's first 40-win season.

“I hadn't even thought about it,” coach Kim Mulkey insisted Monday night. “No matter who you play, you're probably going to be able to probably compare years and teams and times that you played each other. Hadn't thought about it.”

Baylor is in the Oklahoma City Regional, where the No. 2 seed is Tennessee from the SEC, the team the Lady Bears beat in a regional final last March.

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All the No. 1 seeds are the same as last year. The others are Connecticut, Notre Dame and Stanford, the only team to beat the Lady Bears this season, a week into the season before their 30-game winning streak.

The Lady Bears are on the same side of the bracket as the Spokane Regional, where Stanford is the No. 1 seed. That could mean the same NCAA Final Four matchup in the national semifinals as a year ago.

Baylor has won all 14 of its previous games against Prairie View, including 66-30 to open the NCAA tournament in 2011 — Griner's sophomore season when the top-seeded Lady Bears lost in a regional final against No. 2 seed and then-Big 12 foe Texas A&M.

The other first-round game in Waco on Sunday has No. 8 seed Florida State (22-9), an at-large team from the ACC, against Ivy League champion Princeton (22-6).

“Somebody asked me the other day, do we feel the pressure to repeat? I said absolutely not, the pressure was last year,” Mulkey said. “If we get beat, it will be because the other team flat-out outplayed us.”